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The shadows on the cloak are too stark, not too dark or blue. In the pictures it seems to go from pure white to darkest shadow with no middle ground. White is one of the hardest colors to get to appear right with shadows as most of the white is pure and the shadows are limited to the deepest recesses.

The book looks good and the gems work fine. You could add a thin line of yellow to the bottom of the gems to make them look a bit more translucent. Nice work so far.

The shadows on the cloak are too stark, not too dark or blue. In the pictures it seems to go from pure white to darkest shadow with no middle ground. White is one of the hardest colors to get to appear right with shadows as most of the white is pure and the shadows are limited to the deepest recesses.

While I would technically agree with this be very very careful if you are planning on extending the shadows. The cloak looks quite good as it is, in a "eavy metal" type of way. I once ended up (after hours and hours of work) with a lovely BLUE Saruman (Lotr) model I nearly cried over. I eventually repainted him but it was a lesson hard earned.

Yes if you were looking for a blue shadow use shadow gray and space wolf gray rather than a stark transition like that

@WIP Sorc'
I'd say the white cloth needs some attention. The shading effects are too much in contrast to the cape etc.
- I'd have my try with a much lighter blue. That gives for some really nice silk-effects.

If you don't know what i mean, try browsing GW's page. It has alot of white-colored models. Especially the 40k Eldar HQ ranges with alot of slik-like clothes!

EDIT: Wasn't done here! *stupid habits*
The book, HOWEVER, looks fantastic, Bunny! And the jewels are just as nicely done! When you glance at the mini's, there's always some details that draws the most attention, and the book and the jewels were amongst the first thing, i believe, you're most likely to focus on. And they're just awesome!

Thanks so much everyone for the advice. I totally agree the cloak shadows are too stark. Like from one side of the spectrum to the other. I have an idea that might tone it down a bit without worry about ruining anything. I can't blend (haven't worked on that technique very much at all) so I'm hoping this idea works at least somewhat.

Didn't have any painting time today (had a nap in the middle of the day and played Little Big Planet on PS3 for the rest of the nights) but maybe I'll get something done tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone for the advice. Super helpful!

bunnygurl wrote: (had a nap in the middle of the day and played Little Big Planet on PS3 for the rest of the nights)

Sounds like a pretty sweet day! I never get to nap. There are several techniques you could use on that cloak, but understandable that you fear having to redo all of it. For one, you could try to thin out your white and, while using just a wee bit, try to brush it over the deep blue or you could attempt to layer several different shades from blue/grey to white. Either way, you risk disaster, but I'd say it's worth it, as this is a character piece and not just some generic foot soldier.

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress when I get back from my work trip. Hopefully, I'll see some Mino freehand

Easiest thing is to take the premade colors like the others have said and slowly go down to the deep dark you have at the very center, and even then, sparingly as the cloak isn’t folded over itself in any way.

If you wanted to try another way, take that white and add a LITTLE (like your fine brush’s very tips… and even then, wipe even more it off) and mix it thorougly with the white- resulting color should still be “pretty damned white w/ a hint of blue”. Put that over generously over the areas where it starts sloping inward. After getting the robe’s folds, hit that batch again with more blue (water/thinner is probably necessary) to make it just a bit more whitish-blue. Follow the previous step, but cover slightly less area of the slope than the previous color. Again. Again. Again. Again. The color should grade into the darkest color as the blue slowly overpowers the initial white base. The final colors are up to you, but based on the folds, a couple shades higher than dark blue. I think this model is perfect for practicing the blending stuff as the folds are pretty easy to follow. Jus in case you wanted to practice it… the others’ advice is the same, only using the premade colors grading down into the dark to lessen the contrast.

In other news, the rest of it looks pretty clean- I think you got it with the blue sleeves… imagine that on the rest of the cloak, and I think you’ve got a winner! Keep it up! Btw, like the minotaur paintjob.

I need to change the record.

I no longer hate you, I love all your work

Comp sucks. Will no longer load the Internet. I'm using my mother's computer, so updates may be lacking until I get a new computer. -_- Freakin' technology I tells ya.

Worked more on the HE Sorcerer. I did something to the cloak and it's much less stark IMO. Highlighted the blue cloth and personally, I LOVE it. So close to finishing him. Just need to to highlight magical puff cloud, and paint and flock the base. Oh, forgot the boots. Need to paint his boots too. So close.

Moltar - Not sure if I'll be able to get the Minotaur freehand in because, as mentioned above, computer is packing it up something fierce. See if I can drag the reference pick out of it before it hits the recycling pile.

Izanagi - Thanks for the great tips. I'm very tempted to buy another Sorcerer just for the fact of practicing blending on the cloak. It is quite a simple cloak to work with.

tipios - I'm glad to hear it. ^_^ P.S. Your sig rules.

Thanks for looking ya'll.

Why would you get a new computer just cause the internet won't load? That's not a hard problem to fix (usually).

Well, there's many many MANY more problems wrong with it...this is just the most recent. And it was never a good computer to begin with. My father-in-law has a really good computer he's willing to let us buy off of him. It's a good deal as it's brand new, powerful and he's letting us do a payment plan to pay for it. No interest and payments the size we want (as long as it's reasonable). Just when we get it, I'm not sure. From what it's sounding like...maybe tomorrow. Huzzah.

Darn... this is PURE AWZZZZUUUMMMMNESSSSS

Seems I can always count on you for support Inget. Thank you.

I got my new computer. YAY! This one is great. Doesn't turn itself off or nothing. Sweet. However I haven't had time to get any painting done in the last 2 days as I've had company over and was out and about doing things. I know...like WTH!? Most likely won't be able to get anything done tomorrow either as my house is a mess and needs to be re-organized. Can anyone say 'all day job'?

Will ya'll stick around if I promise you awesome stuff? I hope so. Thanks for looking and waiting. >_<

Don't we always stuck around? I wanna see this soceror finished up

Aw darn was hoping for more updates, oh well. Congrats on your new computer!

new computer, sweet!

Well I got fever so I don't paint either... xD

Not jut Inget who's got your back it seems. We're here for the duration on this bad boy, new computer and all

Ya'll rule. Thanks.

Alright, so bad news (possibly) first. I was trying out a couple color combos for the skin color of my last Minotaur. That, my friends, did not pan out. First new color idea made him look like he was made of Pepto Bismol. Second color combo made him look like he had lost all circulation. So having lost my patience with that, I said screw it and he will remain with the skin color you see in the WIP photo. Since it seemed most people liked that color anyways, I figured whatever.

Good news, we are now onto the freehand portion of both models. Here's hoping I can call upon my artistic abilities as a painter and translate that into drawing. Hoping to have something up for you guys by tomorrow afternoon somtime as this is the last stage for both until completion.

More good news. Since I re-organized my house, I have a new painting area and desk which is much more spacious and comfortable, so I see much more painting in my future as I don't have to hunker over some tiny table anymore. It's great. I feel so at peace at my new desk.

Wish me luck with the drawing. I hope to make everyones wait worthwhile.

good luck!

+ off topic: please don't call me "inget" it meens nothing... seriosly... inget meens nothing... xD not nothing, but the word nothing... and i'm something... zo ya know xD


Automatically Appended Next Post:

bunnygurl wrote:Seems I can always count on you for support Inget. Thank you.

>_<

Ofc you can I LOVE your work... as isaid a few times; it's pure awzzzummmnessss
wish i could be as good as you

Sorry. Should I call you namn instead, or dude?

Already everyone. Huzzah me! Both the Minotaur and the Sorcerer are complete (I hope).


This is my first real freehand (aside from squiggly lines) so please be gentle.




I'm not really too sure on how to do fire without drybrushing but I think it turned out pretty nice.


I toned down the shadows a bit, but seeing it here makes me think it needs a bit more.


A close-up of the runes on the Sorcerer's cape. Some of them aren't the greatest, but hey, I think they turned out alright. But dang...fuzzy pic. Hate when that happens.

Well thanks for waiting and following along. Hope this keeps ya'll tided over until I can churn out some Skaven. I have the two Rat Ogres from the IoB set on my table now, I just have no idea how to paint them. Oh well. Here goes.

I like the freehand- that's a lot better than my attempts at it!

Nice touch!

Yes, WAY better free hand than me!
Great job!

M.K

Just ran through the blog, and I love seeing how much better you've gotten in such a short time. The Minotaurs are great looking, especially the banner. I'd agree the shadows in the cape are a bit harsh, maybe a bit more subtle gradient would help. Also the white strip on the bottom of the robe got a lot of blue wash on it, may want to clean that up. Fire looks perfect though.

Good work on the freehand. The highlights on the cape are still a bit too stark. Other than that you did an excellent job. Keep it up, cant wait to see the Rat Ogres

The runes look the gak

Fire looks great. No issues with that at all.

I think your free hand is great. As this is a blog to try and help you improve then the slightest criticism would be to say the black on the banner looks too thick.

Overall though, you should be chuffed.

Thank you, thank you, thank you all.

I agree I went a little nuts with the blue wash. I like blue. >_> Will work on my white some more. We all know how troublesome white can be though, don't we?

Please, criticise all you want. That's why I started this 'cause my mother won't say nothing even remotely negative about them. How productive.

I will admit I didn't thin my black. I was too nervous about the freehand. And I used bleached bone to draw on the image in the first place and tried to cover it back up with Gryphonne Sepia, but you can still see the lines somewhat. But now that I know I can do it (I'm thrilled) it should be much better next time.

Thanks for all the support and advice everyone! Without you guys I would never have attempted any freehand (squiggly lines don't count). You guys inspire me to be a million times better. Thanks.

Very smart, when I was typing the page curser went to the start.

Keep going with the freehand. Flames look good. Banner design looks good. Runes look awesome. I'm jealous of the runes.